Melrose House Society is seeking greater contributions from Nelson City Council to upgrade facilities and better market its heritage house.
Proposed developments, including roughly $110,000 in renovations to toilets and bathrooms and an earth platform for concerts and plays on the main lawn, aim to grow the society’s financial independence from council by focussing on commercial activities.
A request for funding made by Melrose House Society to the Rata Foundation last month had only been half-met when past grant applications had been approved in full, leaving the society about $65,000 short for its budgeted works, Briggs said.
‘‘If we don’t raise that through council there’s no other source of funding for us. We’re not prepared to wait around for another three years.
Melrose House Society has earmarked $50,00 –$10,000 of the society’s own funds and another $40,000 from the Rata Foundation.
A further $97,300 would be needed for new furniture and a kitchen refurbishment. Councillor Matt Lawrey questioned whether removing trees which screen Melrose House from public view might be a more expedient way to boost its profile, but Briggs said it was ‘‘really a matter of marketing it’’.
(The Nelson Mail, Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016)
The public has sent a clear message about the future of Moturoa/ Rabbit Island: ‘‘We love it, just the way it is.’’
Tasman District Council policy adviser Anna Gerraty said the council received 560 surveys and 82 comments by the February 29 deadline after it called for feedback on the future of Rabbit, Rough and Birds islands. Gerraty also met with a range of groups and users of the islands over summer.
Feedback received ranged from broad ideas about where and how different activities could be successfully managed on the islands, to specific suggestions for where maintenance, repairs or new facilities were needed.
The council aimed to have a draft plan available by the end of April.
(The Nelson Mail, Thursday, March 3rd, 2016)
A vacant section of land in Enner Glynn is being developed with seven new three-bedroom apartments.
Nelson City Council Strategy and Environment group manager Clare Barton said the higher density subdivision was great for the future development of Nelson.
Apart from the Port Hills apartments, Nelson’s residential space is predominantly stand-alone houses. The three bedroom, two bathroom apartments will be built on land between Coster Street and The Ridgeway.
Jennie Homes Managing Director Simon Collett said it was a unique opportunity to build affordable living. There were more plans for future apartments.
The Three Ridges Estate complex cost between $399,000 - $430,000 and is due to be complete in October.
(The Nelson Mail, Thursday, March 3rd, 2016)
Nelson home prices are still on the rise as supply and demand continue to control the market.
Latest QV statistics reveal that the average home in the city is now valued at $439,741, up 3.7 per cent from December and 7.7 per cent from last year.
QV Nelson Registered Valuer Craig Russell said the market is still on the up yet the amount of properties available to buy is low.
The number of properties for sale is down on previous years but the amount of buyers looking for houses is increasing, people coming into the market are finding themselves fighting for a home.
Remax Elite Nelson Director Kate Bradley said she was finding the same thing, with lots of potential buyers but not enough sellers.
The sheer volume of buyers in the market has meant the amount they are willing to spend on a home has increased, encouraging sellers to make prices higher.
Jennian Homes Managing Director Simon Collett said the demand for new homes is also high, ‘‘In the new home market we have seen quite a range of people. It appears to be a larger number of investors. It’s people who see Nelson as an investment opportunity. In the last six months the demand for sections is as high as I’ve seen, like in 2003 to 2005, we’re in the same space as then,’’ Collett said.
Most buyers are coming from outside the region, with the majority of places being purchased by Auckland investors.
(The Nelson Mail, Friday, March 4th, 2016)
The 14-hectare hillside site is being developed by property owner and developer Garry Adcock who plans to build 150 homes.
The Nelson City Council entered a Housing Accord with the Government last June with the aim of building more affordable homes in Nelson. This week, the Government confirmed nine special housing areas which they say will create 417 new homes for the city.
(The Nelson Mail, Saturday, March 5th, 2016)
An inner-city Nelson carpark should be developed into a residential project that brings some life to Nelson, according to councillors.
The city council has accepted a recommendation that it asks for expressions of interest for the purchase of Betts Carpark for inner-city residential development.
The carpark, on the corner of Nile St East and Trafalgar Square, would include specific design controls to ensure ‘‘high quality urban design outcomes’’ while providing ‘‘a viable and attractive proposition for potential purchasers and developers’’.
(The Nelson Mail, Saturday, March 5th, 2016)
Tourism continues to grow strongly in Nelson Tasman, bettering national growth, latest figures show.
In December, the total number of overnight guests increased by 7.7 per cent when compared to the previous year, exceeding the national average of 4.7 per cent. International guests were up by 7.4 per cent, surpassing the national average growth by 6.2 per cent while domestic guests increased by 7.9 per cent compared to national domestic growth of 3.8 per cent.
“We are exceeding national levels of growth at year end”
Lynda Keene, Nelson Tasman Tourism
(The Nelson Mail, Saturday, March 5th, 2016)
Most Tasman district ratepayers are tipped to face rate rises of less than $1 a week in the council’s draft financials for its 2016-17 annual plan.
The annual plan includes a total rates income increase of less than 1 per cent, well below the forecast of 2.96 per cent in the 2015-25 Long Term Plan (LTP).
Mayor Richard Kempthorne said rates for 86 per cent of property owners would rise by less than $1 a week. A further 12 per cent would face an increase of less than $2 a week.
(The Nelson Mail, Saturday, March 5th, 2016)
“I like nonsense; it wakes
the brain cells up.”
- Dr. Seuss.